I Look Up When I Walk

Country: JapanLanguage: Japanese

[wpspoiler name=”Lyrics of All Around This World version” style=”aatw-other” ]Ue o muite arukoo
I look up when I walk
So my tears won’t fall
Because tonight, I’m all alone
Hitoribotchi no yoru
Ue o muite arukoo
I look up when I walk
So my tears won’t fall
I remember carefree spring days
Hitoribotchi no yoru
I am truly so happy inside
But everyone feels sad sometimes[/wpspoiler]

More info:
A famous song, both in Japan and in the United States in the early ’60s; it was the first, and maybe only, Japanese language song to top the American pop charts. It’s quite a sad song, especially when you know of the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the demise of its singer, Kyu Sakamoto. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyu_Sakamoto) When this song became popular in the U.S. the record company releasing it didn’t call it by its original title, but instead labeled it “Sukiyaki,” which was the only Japanese word most people in the U.S. knew. There’s nothing about sukiyaki in the song.
Thanks to Jessica Arntson, mom of music class student Milo, for help with suggesting and translating this song. Check it out on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C35DrtPlUbc), including original lyric transliteration and English translation. Here’s some more information about Kyu Sakamoto and the song (http://www.japanorama.com/kyuchan.html), complete with the following translation:

Ue o muite arukoo
I look up when I walk
Namida ga kobore nai yoo ni
So the tears won’t fall
Omoidasu haru no hi
Remembering those happy spring days
Hitoribotchi no yoru
But tonight I’m all alone
Ue o muite arukoo
I look up when I walk
Nijinda hoshi o kazoete
Counting the stars with tearful eyes
Omoidasu natsu no hi
Remembering those happy summer days
Hitoribotchi no yoru
But tonight I’m all alone
Shiawase wa kumo no ue ni
Happiness lies beyond the clouds
Shiawase wa sora no ue ni
Happiness lies above the sky
Ue o muite arukoo
I look up when I walk
Namida ga kobore nai yoo ni
So the tears won’t fall
Nakinagara aruku
Though my heart is filled with sorrow *
Hitoribotchi no yoru
For tonight I’m all alone
(whistling)
(whistling)
Omoidasu aki no hi
Remembering those happy autumn days
Hitoribotchi no yoru
But tonight I’m all alone
Kanashimi wa hoshi no kage ni
Sadness hides in the shadow of the stars
Kanashimi wa tsuki no kage ni
Sadness lurks in the shadow of the moon
Ue o muite arukoo
I look up when I walk
Namida ga kobore nai yoo ni
So the tears won’t fall
Nakinagara aruku
Though my heart is filled with sorrow *
Hitoribotchi no yoru
For tonight I’m all alone
(whistling)
(whistling)